Oceanspirit

I have passed my goal for Christmas by 1 lb. I have reset my goal to lose 4 more lbs by Christmas. Wooo Hooo!

The numbers are finally showing on the weight, I'm down 56 lbs. Yay! Thank you everyone.

Just follow what the doctor says and go regularly for your checkups and fills. I personally got really tired of broth, so I devised a broth/v8/spice mixture that sort of tasted like a beefy tomato soup. This was what I ate to get the broth down as I hate broth. Remember even though you are so hungry at first you can do anything for a few days and it goes by really quickly.

You guys are amazing and should be so very proud. I am very proud of you. I also started out over 300. It was a moment of celebration for me. :thumbup:

I got another fill today and I think I've hit the sweet spot, based on my liquid lunch. It took very little to fill up and this is the first time that has happened to me. I have liquids for two days then back to solids. I will let you know how it goes then.

I posted this in 100+ but I wanted to post it here too. I have been visiting the forum for a while. I usually don't post a lot but have been doing it more and more recently because I think I need the support of others going through the same things. I have been losing about 1/2 to 1 lb a week and its been a struggle as I see others in my group having lost much much more than me. Especially as it seems the scale has been sort of stuck for a while. Today I went into Lane Bryant. I have been resisting shopping because I refuse to pay that much for something I hopefully won't wear very long, but this means all my clothes are really big on me. I was unable to wear a 28 there when I began my journey. Today I tried on the pants and the lady told me they run kind of small. So I tried a 24, and they were falling off of me. Then a 22, again they were too big. So she got me a 20 and......I actually got them on my body!!!!! Its been years since I could fit in a Lane Bryant 22. Granted I could only fit into them and zip them up, but still they went on my body. It made me hope that even though the number seems stuck that I am at least getting smaller.

I've always thought I've looked better in mini skirts than shorts, so I've always worn them. Nothing is less sexy than shorts with one leg riding up your crotch. So I voted yes, and I've never had complaints big or not.

I'm new to this thread but have been visiting the forum for a while. I usually don't post a lot but have been doing it more and more recently because I think I need the support of others going through the same things. I have been losing about 1/2 to 1 lb a week and its been a struggle as I see others in my group having lost much much more than me. Especially as it seems the scale has been sort of stuck for a while. Today I went into Lane Bryant. I have been resisting shopping because I refuse to pay that much for something I hopefully won't wear very long, but this means all my clothes are really big on me. I was unable to wear a 28 there when I began my journey. Today I tried on the pants and the lady told me they run kind of small. So I tried a 24, and they were falling off of me. Then a 22, again they were too big. So she got me a 20 and......I actually got them on my body!!!!! Its been years since I could fit in a Lane Bryant 22. Granted I could only fit into them and zip them up, but still they went on my body. It made me hope that even though the number seems stuck that I am at least getting smaller. :rolleyes2:

Yay! I am so happy for you. I can't wait to join you. Do you have any advice for those of us hoping to join you?

I don't regret having it done, but I would say that it hasn't been all the things I thought it would be. I am a health care person and I know all the logical processes for the lap band, but what my head knew and my heart wanted were different things. I think somewhere inside of me, I had hoped it would be the magic answer. When they say its just a tool, they really, really mean that. I had hoped that would make things easier, but in reality it still is a lot of work. Having said that I'm about 7 months out and down 51 lbs 28 since surgery so its about a pound a week. I wouldn't have been able to do that without the band. I think if I had it to do over, I might have considered something for the psychological aspects of eating before the band. BUT, its still one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I wanted to thank everyone for the support. I went to my support group meeting and learned a couple of interesting things. I still eat too fast It takes your body time to catch up to when you are not hungry anymore I called and talked to the nurtritionist on staff and got some really positive feedback. I'm losing on target even though it feels so very slow I'm eating appropriately and correct number of calories Based on her questioning she recommended another fill So I wanted to thank everyone for their help.

Its so wonderful to hear from everyone and their great weight loss. I have lost a total of 53, 30 since the band. Its going slower than I expected, but at least its going.

I have been stuck at 261 so I made a small goal. Only 6 lbs. I hope this helps me break the trend.

I consider breakfast my boring meal so I don't think I can help you much. I only eat protein for breakfast most of the time. Some variation on eggs or egg substitute.

Great job everyone. I'm really proud of you all. I have only lost about 20 lbs since April with the band. I had lost 30 prior to the band. I'm kinda down about it, but reading here about everyone's success is helping. My surgeon assures me that its working for me. I guess we will see. I just found where he thinks I need to be my last fill. I'm not so sure, but its definately closer.

I think that I still might need a fill though, because I'm starving about 1 hour after I eat, but at least if I have tracked it on fit day then I can show my doctor proof.

Thanks everyone, I've been journaling on fit day and found some interesting things. For the past two days I've been forcefully restricting myself, just eating enough to make the hunger stop, not until I'm full or even have any kind of need to stop sensation, and I'm getting between 1100-1200 calories. I switched my morning eggs to egg substitute and dropped to 1 cup of milk since I get calcium from other sources. I also think I get too many carbs and not enough protein. My husband is going to help me set aside time to exercise while he watches the baby.

I signed up for fit day today and my husband and I have been discussing ways I can incorporate exercise. I plan on implementing exercise. However, I still should be losing something instead of gaining or barely maintaining. This is what is so frustrating for me and so depressing. I really am trying and not eating crap. Anyways, thanks for the comments I appreciate it. I signed on here looking for support because I really need some and there are no local groups here.

I am very depressed about this whole thing. My surgeon typically does three fills and then no more unless absoulutely necessary. I've had my third fill and I felt like it was it, but I'm still not losing the magical 1-2 pounds a week. Most weeks I go up but if I lose then its usually 0.5 lbs. The one thing I need to do that I don't is exercise. I had surgery in April and I've only lost about 15-20 lbs since surgery. All the weight I lost came off prior to surgery. I don't drink with my meals or for about an hour after. I drink mostly water and usually 2-3 cups of milk a day. I only get sick or have any signs of fullness when I eat to fast or obviously too much. I swore I wouldn't be a whiner. I really want this work. I even had a friend approach me about weight watchers. I thought the tool would help me find my zone of when to stop eating, identifying when I'm full, but so far that hasn't happened. I just need support, help, a swift kick in the rear, something. Please help me figure out what I'm doing wrong or not doing.

I'm in Louisville as well. I had mine with Louisville Bariatric at St. Mary's and I had a hernia repair. I went shopping at target on the way home from the hospital. I had to take my alleve and gasx regularly but mostly was uncomfortable from the gas. The day after was much much better. I know every person is different, but so far I've had little discomfort at all.

I'm 4 days post op and I seem to be hiccuping a lot, which is something I never did before. I also started on full liquids yesterday and every time I have something I get sort of a uncomfortable feeling in the top of my mid abdomen. No reflux, everything is staying down. Is this normal?

My surgery was today. I will post my experience in our group area.

Tomorrow is my day and suddenly I'm really anxious about it all. I have to be at the hospital at 630 am, ughh. I've completed a 7 day diet of mostly clear low sugar liquids, and my advice is be honest with others and be strong. I've asked my coworkers to be supportive and would have no problem telling them to back off. Good luck. Not much help I'm afraid, but I'm the go with the honesty type of person.

I got approved!!!!! I heard today and I am scheduled for surgery on April 6th! I can't wait and am terrified all at the same time. I think I have to do a 2 week liquid diet instead of a one week as I meet that person next week but won't have surgery for another 2 weeks.

I am relatively new to posting on the forum but have been reading for a while. All my paperwork has been submitted to my insurance and I was told it was in the nurse's inbox to review for approval two days ago. I am 5'6 inches and about 290 lbs and in my early 30's. I have Humana PPO and am seeing Dr. Schuster in Louisville, KY. I had my six month diet and my psych eval but am fairly good health with a huge family history of obesity and related diseases. So now I'm anxious and excited and nervous. I'm dreading the pre-op diet and have heard its a liquid only diet for at least 7 days, but you don't find that out until you see the surgeon for your second appointment after approval. Just curious if anyone has any advice or tidbits that you wish you had known or done before surgery. Did you take anything to the hospital? Was there something you would have asked that you didn't before surgery? Would you have done something differently to prepare yourself? Thank you for taking the time to read this and responding.